Lifting-jack for automobiles.



G. O. HALE.

LIFTING JACK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

1,008, 1 38.. Patented Nov. 7, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

. 1 ii II INVENTOR' WITNESSES M f G. G. HALE.

LIFTING JACK FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1911.

Patented Nov. 7,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I VITNESSES [N 'ENTOR 6% E yaw GEORGE C. HALE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

LIFTIIIG JACK FOR KUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1911.

Application filed June 3, 1911. Serial No. 681,163.

able others skilled in the art to which it' appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to means for supporting automobiles when at rest, as, for instance, when they are standing in garages or fire stations, so as to relieve the tires from the dead weight of the machine.

Experience has demonstrated that great damage results to the tires of automobiles from the constant weight of the machine resting in one spot on said tires while the machine is not 1n operation.

It is the object of my invention to provide improved means'for the purpose indicated.

Other objects are to facilitate the lifting of automobiles and the lowering and removal of the same from the supporting means when the machines are to be used.

My invention is particularly suitable for use in fire stations or en ine houses in connection with automobile re apparatus.

The invention consists of a plurality of diaphragm lifting jacks adapted to be operated by fluid, under pressure, and connected together to' form a unitary structure adapted to fit below an automobile with one of the jacks positioned below the hub of each wheel. The frame connecting the jacks consists of pipes for supplying the actuating fluid to said jacks. Said frame or system of ipes has a common inlet for the actuating fiuid and a common relief valve whereby all of the jacks may be raised in unison and low ered simultaneously. Upright columns or props are arranged u on each of the jacks for supporting the ax es of the automobile. These columns or props are capable of swinging down out of the way after the jacks are lowered and when the machine is run out from above said jacks. Said props will automatically rise to upright position again as soon as released by the axles.

The invention also consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and specified in the appended claims. 7 i In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a plan view of my lifting and supporting apparatus. Fig. 2 is a transverse verticalsection taken centrally of two of the jacks and showing the axle of an automobile in its raised position with its wheels off of the floor, and Fig. 3 is a broken side view of the upper end of one of the columns or props illustrating how it engages the axle, the latter being shown in cross section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 designates the main lon itudinal pipe for conveying the actuating fluid to the jacks 2 which are connected to said main pipe b branch pipes 3. One end of said lo 1tud1- nal pipe is closed, as at 4, its other on being equipped with a hose cou ling 5 and a relief valve 6. Each of the jac is round and flat in form with a solid diaphragm 7 clamped firmly between its lower and upper flanges 8 and 9, respectively, by bolts 10, making a water and air tight joint around the edge of the jack. The inlet passage 11, intowhich the pipe 3-is fitted, o ens on the base of the chamber 12 in the jac below the diaphra m. The normal lowered'posit-ion of said diahragm is concave, as illustrated in dotted ines in Fig. 2. Its raised position is convex, as shown in' solid lines. 7 Said diaphragm may be made of any suitable flexible material possessing the necessary weari properties. I have illustrated the diahragm as composed of an upper disk 7 of heavy canvas and a lower disk.7 of rubber bearing against the bottom of said upper disk. The rubber serves to prevent any leakage through the canvas and the latter is made sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure of the actuating fluid.

A piston 13 is arranged above the diaphragm and is fitted in a short cylinder 14 formed integral with the upper flange 8 and having a ledge 15 forlimitmg the upward movement of said piston. The under surface of the piston is preferably made concave to conform to the convex upper surface of the diaphragm when the latter is raised. A circular upwardly projecting rim 16 is formed concentrically on the u per surface of the piston for the purpose 0 seating the lower end of the column or prop 17.

The props or columns may be made of wood, metal, or any other suitable material but preferably consist of wooden shanks 17 a and upper and lower metal caps or ferrules 17 and 17, respectively, and illustrated in Fig. 2. The upper caps 17 are forked,'as at 18, for engaging the axle 19 of an automobile. It is preferable to have the props engage the axle as near to the hubs 20 of the wheels 21 as practicable, but in order to bring the jacks within the wheel base of the machine, so as not to interfere with the ready removal of the latter, said props are usually positioned at points on the axle below which the truss rod 22 extends. I, therefore, make deep forks or bifurcations in the upper ends of the props so as to reach around the truss rod and engage the axle, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The wooden shank of each of the props is hollow and through it extends a helical spring 23 connecte at its opposite ends to bosses 24 and 25, respectively, formed on the ca 17 and the center of the piston 13. The f rrule 17 on the lower end of the prop is, of course, perforated to correspond to the passage through the shank. The inner wall of the rim 16 is rounded, as at 16", so as to permit the prop to swing down in any direction. The spring serves to automatically raise the prop to upright position when released.

When my invention is to be used, an automobile is run in over the device and stopped in position with its axles directly above the forward and rearpairs of jacks, respectively. The props are then ad usted below the axles, by swinging said props laterally to clear the truss rods, and the actuating fluid admitted to the pipe 1 via the coupling 5 whereby the pistons of the jacks are raised by the diaphragms into the positions illustrated in Fig. 2. The raising of the pistons elevates the axle through the medium of the props or columns 17 until the weight of the machine is removed from the tires on its wheels. hen it is desired to use the automobile, the relief valve 6 is opened, by any suitable means, liberating the fluid in the jacks. As

soon as the pressure of said fluid is removed from below the diaphragms, they will drop 'to the positions illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby lowering the axle of the automobile until the latter is supported upon its wheels. I The dropping of the diaphragm,

and of the pistons, of course, with them, re-

moves the weight from the props or columns which swin down out of the way as the automobile 1s run out.

I am aware that various changes may be made over the construction shown and described herein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention. I, therefore, reserve the ri ht to make such changes as fairly' fall withln the scope of the appended claims. It is also evident that water under pressure, steam orcompressed air may be used as the actuating 'ating the ordinary city main, may be utilized,

makes my invention especially suitable for use in fire stations or engine houses where automobile fire apparatus is kept.

I claim:

1. In a liftingjack, the combination, with a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a prop seated upon said piston, means for yieldingly holding said prop in upright position, but permitting it to be swung down when required, and means to admit an actufluid into the chamber below the piston.

2. In a lifting jack, the combination, with a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a prop seated upon said piston, means for yieldingly holding said prop normally in upright position, but permitting it to be swung down when required, means to center the lower end of the prop on the piston, and

a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a prop seated upon said piston, means for yieldingly holding said prop normally in upright position, but permitting it to be swung down when required, a concentric rim having an outwardly and upwardly receding inner wall for the purpose specified,

and means to admit an actuating fluid into the chamber below the piston.

- 4. In a lifting ac k, the combination, with a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder, means to admit an actuating fluid into the chamber below the piston, a prop mounted on the piston, said prop comprising a shank,

having a longitudinal passage therein, a cap on the upper end of said shank, a perforated ferrule on the lower end of said shank, a

flexible connection extending through the passage in the shank and connected to the piston and to said cap, and means to center the prop upon the piston.

5. In a lifting jack, the combination, with a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a diaphragm arranged between said lower mem er and cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder above the diaphragm, a prop seated upon said piston, means for yieldlngly holding said prop normally in upright position but permitting it to be swung down when required, and means to admit an actuating fluid into the chamber below the diaphragm.

6. In a lifting jack, he combination, with means for yieldingly holding said prop normally in upright position but permitting it to be swung down when required, means to center the lower end of the prop on the piston, and means to admit an actuating fluid into thevchamber below the diaphragm;

7. In a lifting jack, the combination, with a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a diaphragm arranged between said lower member and cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder above the diaphragm, a.

prop seated upon said piston, means for yieldingly holding said 'prop normally in upright position but permitting it to be swung down when required, a concentric rim having an upwardly and outwardly receding inner wall for the purpose specified, and

means to admit an actuating fluid into the chamber below the diaphragm.

8. In a lifting jack, thecombination, with a lower chambered member, of a vertical cylinder, a diaphragm arranged between said lower memberand cylinder, a piston mount in said cy'li'nder above the diaphragm,

means to admit an actuating fluid into the chamber below the diaphragm for raising the piston, a prop mounted on the piston,

said proptcomp'rising'a shank having a lonthe lower end of said shank, flexible connection extending through the passage in the shankand connected to the piston and to saidcap, and means to center the prop upon the piston. a c- In testimony whereof, .I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

j GEORGE o; HALE.

Witnesses: i

STEVE SmMEEK, FRANK J. WETI'ENGEL;

a 3o 1, gitudinal passage therein, a cap on the upper end of said shank, a perforated ferrule on 

